Tuesday, January 09, 2007

NCAA: Tax-Exempt Business or Sport?

Now that the season has ended, get ready for an offseason of turbulence. The NCAA's tax-exempt status is coming under increasing fire and don't be surprised to see NCAA honcho Myles Brand before a congressional committee pleading his case. Frankly, it doesn't look good when a university (Alabama) outbids an NFL team (Miami Dolphins) for a coach (Nick Saban). Never mind that salaries of university presidents run between $200,000 and $700,000 and professors are paid much, much less. It's football that matters at our universities, right? Never mind that Article I of the NCAA Constitution affirms that academics have primacy over athletes. Yes, it only seems a matter of time before Irwin R. Schyster (IRS) comes knocking.